Friends-to-The-Stars Settle Embarrassing Lawsuit

Posted by Jose Lambiet , October 11, 2012 Print

A lawsuit brought by a former chef against one half of Miami Beach society’s most visible couple is quietly being settled less than a month before a potentially embarrassing trial!

Jim Ridinger, who with wife Loren owns the successful multi-level marketing biz Market America, was accused of mistreating a cook during a drunken rampage on the couple’s mega-yacht, Utopia, according to court papers.

A trial was expected to highlight wild allegations of on-board shenanigans!

The case lingered for three years in a court in West Palm Beach, where the 150-foot yacht happened to have been docked when the incidents allegedly occurred.

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I’m told by an insider both Jim Ridinger and plaintiff Russell Holck agreed to bury the hatchet last week.

Holck claimed Jim Ridinger commented on the quality of his cooking by throwing kitchen utensils and food at him. Holck claimed he was seriously hurt while trying to avoid food that Jim Ridinger was allegedly flinging at him.

The terms of the settlement are confidential, but Holck asked for “substantial” damages.

The Ridingers are the go-to people for celebrities who want to spend a few quiet days in Miami Beach.

Desperate Housewives’ hottie Eva Longoria and actress Jennifer Lopez are often snapped by paparazzi while lounging around on the Utopia.

Alan C. Gold, Holck’s Coral Gables attorney, was out-of-town and couldn’t be reached for comment. April Boyer, Jim Ridinger’s attorney, was also traveling and couldn’t be reached.

This story also appears in my column today in the Miami Herald, on newsstands right now

Featured Miami Alan C. Gold, American Idol, Desperate Housewives, Evan Longoria, Florida, Gossip Extra, Jennifer Lopez, Jose Lambiet, lawsuit, Miami Beach, Palm Beach, Russell Holck, Ted Medina, Utopia III, West Palm Beach